Would you believe ... reincarnation?

By Jeannette McMahon

Ghosts, UFOs and psychics are just some of the contentious areas 1233's Aaron Kearney has ventured into as part of his "Would You Believe It?" series. All have their passionate believers and their adamant doubters, and the same holds true for Aaron's latest topic, reincarnation.

Reincarnation is the cornerstone of some of the world's major religions, but for many people it's the subject of conjecture or even derision.

We've all seen comedy skits about people who are convinced they're the reincarnation of a famous figure from history such as Napoleon or Cleopatra.

But those who believe in reincarnation claim it's more about evolving as a human being than claiming a famous "past life".

1233's Aaron Kearney looked at both sides of the debate, first with past lives researcher, Peter Ramster, who explained what reincarnation is.

"The concept is we're born into one life and we experience that life, then the soul or essence of our being moves on out of the body at death, moves into another world where we remain for a period of time before coming back to Earth and being reborn," Peter told Aaron.

"It's fundamentally a process of learning."

Peter believes reincarnation involves not just our planet but others, and that souls can move around the universe.

"The purpose of life is to grow as a human being, where through reincarnation we become better people, and through becoming better people we create a better world," he says.

Peter claims people who remember committing murder in past lives also recall spending time after death in a lower, demonic level of existence, much like the traditional idea of "hell", then living a series of very bad lives to make up for their transgression.

He says reincarnation is related to the growth you need as a person, and that we come back for a reason and a purpose.

"It's a very big likelihood we do live on after death, it's a very big likelihood that we will be reborn, that we will go somewhere else," Peter says.

"So I think what we need to take away with us is that this life is to be lived to the fullest, to be experienced and to enjoy as much as possible."

Aaron followed up with John Turner, who takes a much more sceptical view of reincarnation.

"I think every person is a product of his potential when he was born and his experiences in this life," he says.

"It makes you what you are today, and what you are today is different from what you were yesterday."

John doesn't believe we have a permanent "essence" that makes us who we are.

"It's the current situation regarding your brain cells, what have they learnt and what do they know," he says, adding that personality is quite variable throughout your life.

"Accepting that you get one go at life is a great aphrodisiac for life."

John says people who believe in reincarnation may be indulging in wishful thinking, and not making the most of what they could be doing now.

"They may be wasting a lot of their life and they may be regretting it," he told Aaron.

"I live my life to the best I can, day by day.

"I don't want a past life and I don't need a future one.

"You leave behind what you've done for other people, either for good or evil."